By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
There was a time when if you needed a contractor or someone to clean your house, you simply flipped open the phonebook. But with the popularity of the Internet, many have turned to online service directories to find that person, working to narrow the lists down to someone within your area.
LocalFirst recently launched its own online business directory available at LocalFirst.com, which allows residents to connect to local contractors and service providers.
“LocalFirst works with hundreds of local businesses throughout the West Michigan area,” said LocalFirst Marketing Manager Mieke Stoub. “We also work with the consumer. We try to educate the consumer on why supporting local matters. The directory is a nice way to bring those two sides together to connect the consumer with the services that they need.”
Annually, LocalFirst produces a paper directory that is available for free at a number of locations such as the LocalFirst office, 345 Fuller NE and the WKTV station, 5261 Clyde Park SW.
“So there are some old-fashioned folks, myself included, who really like the tactical feel and this is at least a little more approachable than the Yellow Pages,” Stroub said, adding that the paper directory is separated into categories with an index.
The online directory is a little bit more searchable with categories, but since not every business has a category, there is also a search bar where people can type in any sort of keyword they might need, Stoub said.
“So if you are looking for plants or consignment or clothing, you can type those search terms in and a bunch of businesses will pop up,” she said.
The directory also pulls in Google Maps making it easy for visitors to find the businesses they are looking for. The online business directory is also easier to update for when members move, have an expansion or just change their phone number, she said.
“Our membership base expands from here to the Lakeshore and as far north as Muskegon and as far south as Saugatuck, so there is somebody in your neighborhood no matter where you are,” Stoub said.
To check out the business directory, visit LocalFirst.com.
